The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-11-17

effort to bear himself bravely to the end.
He wished the guard good morning in an
easy manner, and then following Fishers
example walked over to the other end Of
the corridor and washed himself. After
he had finished his ablutions and had
been again locked up, Engel and Parsons
we're brought out in their turn and given
an opportunity to cleanse themselves.
They manifested 6rmness of demeanor,
but said nothing in response to the ques'
tions of the keepers regarding how they
felt. Parsons, however, asked for hair
brush, and one WAS furnished him from
Matson's quarters. He brushed his hair
carefully, and, with the brief remark,
'sthat's ALL" he turned on his heel to-
ward his cell. Att o'clock food, which
had been ordered, was brought in and
taken to the cells. All had ordered beef.
steak, coffee, bread and butter but Par.
sons, who expressed q desire for raw oys.
ters, fried eggs and milk toast. All ate
heartily. Parsons, especially, cleared
everything before him and asked for q
plate of fried oysters. They were quick
ly procured and as quickly put out OF
sight.
When the prisoners had finished their
last meal touching letter of farewell,
signed by Fielden and Schwab, part
being in the handwriting of each, was
brought down stairs by big turnkey.
It was first passed to Spies, then in turn
to Parsons, Engel and Fischer.
AS the time for the execution ap.
preached, the men seemed more medita::
tive. Some wrote letters to friends and
relatives and gave them to the sheriff for
delivery after the execution.
The voice was that of Fischer, and he
was standing at his cell door singing the
"A1arseilleise" with all the strength OF
his powerful lungs. There was smile
upon his face, not cynical, but hearty,
open faced smile as that of "man who
was entering heart and soul into the sen.
timents of the words he was singing"
He sang two stanzas of the famous song
and then subsided.
HOW THEY DIED.
Cook COUNTY JAIL, Nov. 1l.-An.
archists Parsons, Fisher, Engel and Spies,
the convicted Haymarket murderers,
have been throttled by the law-the self
same law that they had hoped to throttle.
Their scatfold drop fell at 11.54 to day:
1t lacked just seven minutes and half
of the hour of high noon when single
white shrouded figure, above which was
a face of yellowish pallor-the face of
August Spies-passed the first post of the
gallows. The gaping crowd, ten feet be-
low, half rose involuntarily from their
chairs at the first glimpse of the appari'
ton advancing across the scafold.
Spies looked calm, and glanced at the
reporters with trace of his old time
cynical smile. He walked firmly over
the drop, guided by the grasp of deputy
to the furthest edge of the gallows. Fol
lowing close came Fischer-close enough
to touch Spies shroud had his hand not
been pinioned under the white muslin.
Fishers countenance had peculiar
glis,eo, totally unlike the ashiness of En-
gel's heavy features, and in strange con-
trast with the desd lack of color in the
pinched lineaments of Parsons. The
once jaunty, vivacious Texan came last,
a withered old man. He had aged
twenty years since the day, scarce twelve
months before, when he had tripped
lightly into the court before Judge Gary
and fippantly declared he was ready to
be tried at once for his life.
The moment his feet touched the scaf-
fold, Parsons seemed to completely loose
his identity and to feel his spirit was no
longer part of his body. He had
wrought himself up to an ecstacy of
solemn self glori6cation. Only be, the
one American, seemed to realize in full
that he must die in manner to impress,
if possible, on all future generations the
thought that he wes martyr. NO
tragedian that has paced the stage in
America ever made a more marvellous
presentation of self-chosen part, perfect
in every detail. The upward turn of his
eyes, his distant, far away look, and above
all his attitude of apparent complete res.
EQUATION, that every fold of the awkward
shroud only served to make the more
distinct, was by far the most striking
feature of the entire gallows picture.
The squatty form of Engel along side,
with his stupid, wide jawed face, made
q hideous contrast to Parsons assumption
of the halo of martyr. Fischer was
head and shoulders taller than the other
three, making his occasional looks of too
evident bravado more noticeable than
they might otherwise be, and at sorry
disadvantage compared with the steady
coolness of Spies. The latter's exhibi.
tion ofquiet, thorough nerve far surpassed
as 8 wonder the demeanor of any of his
comrades.
The four burly deputies standing to
the rear of the four condemned men
began without delay 10 adjust the ropes.
Spies moose being the one first placed.
He did not appear to regard it as OF any
more consequence than new linen col
lar. The knot was slipped down the
cord, close against his neck. Spies did
not show tremor, but when the same
process was being carried out with Fisch-
er, he turned and quietly whispered to
The sheriff some suggestion concerning
the rope. Fischer's occasional ardor was
quite noticeably less when he felt the
hempen strand, and Engel bit his under
lip hard when his turn came. Just then
Dr. Murphy, young physician, standing
back of Engel, whispered joke in En-.
gels ear. Incredible as it may seem,
the low.trowed anarchist laughed out.
right with the rope around his neck, and
while another was being fastened on
Parsons by his side. But the grotesque
laugh stopped in a single instant, and
Parsons, as meekly as saint, turned his
eyes upward at the dangling line above
him.
Before the four Anarchists had an
inkling of what was to be done, the white
caps were deftly slipped upon their
necks sshuttinp off the view to each es